Abnold bossharb



June 18, 1929. A. Bossi-ARD MERGERIZING PROCESS Filed June 28, 1926 Patented June 18, 1929.

UNITED STATES y 1,717,870 PATENT OFFICE.

ARNOLD BOSSHARD, F ARBON, SXVITZERLAND.

MERCERIZING PROCESS.

Application tiled June 28, 1926, Serial No. 119,137, and in Germany July 3, 1925.

The present invention relates to improvements in chainless mercerizing machines and has for its object to provide a machine of this type with which the desired mercerizing effecit may be satisfactorily imparted to fabrics of thin or thick, close or loose quality. This result is due to improvements inthe manner in which the steeping7 tensioning and stretching, washing and rinsing is carried out.

YVith the hitherto known manner of mercerizing woven fabrics lye of the same concentration and temperature has been used in different compartments of the steeping apparatus. From a storage tank for the cooled lye the latter is caused to flow simultaneously to the single compartments in such a quantity that a certain surplus quantity flows back into the storage tank, in which the lye is continuously kept at the same concentration and at a constant low temperature so that owing to the excess quantities in the different co1n partments in which t-he treatment is effected the concentration and temperature of the lye are constant. It is known that fabrics are only gradually saturated when brought into contact with cold and concentrated lyc so that a certain time elapses until a fabric is com pletely saturated with soda lye.V Therefore an impregnation of the fabric cannot occur in the first compartment and the following compartment unless the treatment were prolongated in an inadmissible manner. Therefore one had to be satisfied with a partial saturation in the first compartments and a complete impregnation occurred only in the last compartment of such apparatus. A good and uniform mercerizing effect could not be obtained by working in this known manner.

The method of the present invention overff comes the undesirable features attendant upon incomplete initial impregnation of the fabric. Advantage is taken of the fact that the fabric is easily and readily penetrated by warm lye or other mercerizing liquid, and

i5 even more readily by weak or dilute solutions I,of suoli liquid.y Accordingly the fabric is passed through a series of baths of lye of gradually decreasing temperature and of gradually increasing concentration, whereby the fabric in the initial baths is rapidly and .completely impregnated with relatively warm, weak lyc so that its subsequent immer sion in the cold concentrated liquid results in. a very rapid and thorough mercerization.

The present preferred method of so progressively heating and diluting the initial on spondingly cooler and less dilute; while the last tank, in which the mercerization is completed, contains fresh, cold and concentrated liquid.

Another feature of the chainless merceriz- .ing machine according to the present invention is the means for effecting the stretching of the fabric.

ln the known chainlcss mercerizing machines, the breadth stretching of the fabric against its shrinkage owing to the preceding satin-ation with soda lye for the purpose of producing the mercerizing effect is carried out by means of breadth. stretching devices which for the most part consist of curved rollers or cylinders ridged on the periphery or provided with helical grooves rising in op i posite directions towards both ends, the said rollers or cylinders being arranged transversely to the fabric, straight or in a curve, and one vbehind the other.

Such breadth stretching devices only to a small extent impart to the fabric asimulta neous longitudinal stretching, which is likewisc extremely importantfor the mercerizing effect, and even the breadth stretching action leaves something to be desired in consequenceof the slipperiness of the saturated fabric. For each kind of fabric there is a quite definite degree ofadhesion of the fab-- ric to the periphery of the breadth stretching cylinders or rollers. This, however, in the case of a particular construction of the breadth stretching device is only present at any time for one particular kind of fabric which is just especially adapted to this construction, so that the chainless mercerizing machines can as a rule only impart satisfactorily to quite a definite fabric the desired mercerizing effect, while for all other goods of thinneror thicker, closer or looser quality kthey produce more or tess poor results.

With the maehne according to the pres,

.ent invention the above defect is remedied by interposing between the stecping apparatus and the breadth stretching apparatus for the fabric an adjustable longitudinal tensioning device. The latter renders it possible to adjust accurately the adhesion of the goods to the cylinder or roller peripheries of the spreading apparatus, which is required for the correct spreading action for each kind of fabric, by suitable regulation of the longitudinal tension of the goods, and thereby to obtain in each instance the best action of the stretching apparatus and consequently the best mercerizing effect for the kind of goods in question.

A further feature of the chainless mercerizing machine according to the present invention is the stretching, washing and rinsing apparatus with which the washing liquid is led in a counter-flow to the fabric to be washed so that the liquid which contains the largest percentage of the washed out lye is at the side of the apparatus at which the fabric n to be washed enters it, whereby the liquid Lio which Hows olf at this end is well suited for recovering the lye which it contains.

With known mercerizing machines the lye is removed from lthe fabric in a breadth holding apparatus the whole of it is arranged in a treatment tank constructed as a washing box in which case the en tire breadth holding apparatus lies in the treatment liquid with the material. Further the washing liquid has yalready been brought into action by spraying the fabric on both sides, the entire breadth holding apparatus being enclosed in a treatment trough. This spraying process has also been employed on the counter-current principle, the treatment trough which receives the treatment liquid being separated into compartments located one behind the other, out of which the used treatment 'liquid is taken forwardly in series, and the treatment liquid flowing away from the last portion `of the stretching apparatus being supplied to the immediately'preceding part of the stretching apparatus, and so forth.

With the chainless mercerizing machine forming the subject matter of the present invention the apparatus for washing comprises a chest in Which'the fabric is subjected to a steam treatment and passes through various compartmentsfin succession in which it is washed; the washing water being sprayed to the Afabric after it leaves the chest'and flows from one compartment in the chest to the next by means of over-flow crests. In combination with -this steam chest a breadth stretching apparatus is provided in which the rollers are submerged in the washing liquid, baille plates being arranged to provide for a tortuous path of the washing liquid which flows on the counter-current principle towards the end at which the fabric enters the apparatus. The washing liquid is thus caused to intimately contact withthe fabric Vwhich moves in the opposite direction so that along line I-I in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1 in which the fabric is partly omitted.

In the drawings the fabric to be treated is shown in Fig. 1 by the thick full line 1. The fabric, which passesthrough the machine in the direction-indicated by the arrows A at the entrance end and B at the exit end, enters lirst the steeping apparatus composed in the example shown of two units 2 and 3. The fabric is led over a guide roller 1 into a vessel or compartment 5 in which it passes around aV guide roller 6 submerged in the mercerizing liquid, i. e. soda lye, contained in the compartment 5; thereupon it passes between a large roller 7 and a squeezing roller 8, whereby the mercerizing liquid is squeezed out, into the next compartment 9 containing lye, around a submerged guide roller 10, over a guide roller 1l', between the guide roller 12 and the squeezing roller 8 and from there over a guide roller 13 into the unit 2 of the steeping mechanism. This unit is similarly constructed as the unit l and the same reference numerals are applied to its parts in the case of the unit 1 withv the exception yof the two compartments which are designated with the numerals 14 and 15.

The rollers of the steeping apparatus are driven from the main shaft 16 lby the interpositi-on of the transmission gearings 17, 18 and 19, 20 (Fig. 2) of which the gear wheel 20 is -keyed to one end of the shaft 2l of the uppermost roller 12@ To the other end of the shaft 21 a gear wheel 22 is fixed which cooperates with a gear wheel 24 fixed on the shaft 25 of the roller 7 by means of the intermediate gear wheel 23. The connection between the train of gear wheels of the unit 1 and the main driving shaft 16 is effected by means of the conical pulleys 26 and 27, belt 28 and countershaft 29.

The concentrated and cooled lye is supplied fromV any source, for instance from a storage tank, by means of the pipe 3() to the compartment 15, from where it flows over the )artition wall 31 into the compartment 14, t ence through pipe 32 into the compartment 9 and over the partit-ion wall 33 into the compartment 5'from where it is ledv olf by the pipe 34. The highest concentration and the lowest temperature of the lye is thus in the ycompartment 15; the concentration gradually decreasing and the temperature increasing in the compartments 14, 9 and 5 due to the cumulative heating and diluting effect of the fabric, so that in the latter the soda lye will have the lowest concentration and ico the highest temperature. Thereby the novel effect is attained that the fabric is already well saturated with lye in the first compartment as the higher temperature and lower concentration of the lyc in this compartment ensures a ready saturation. The lye is squeezed out of the fabric after it has left the .first compartment and the fabric is saturated in the next compartment with a lnore concentrated lye having a lower temperature, which lye is again squeezed out and so on until in the last compartment saturation with lye of the highest concentration and of the lowest telnperature is obtained and the mercerizing effect is completed. Obviously the steeping apparatus may comprise more than two units. By this method of gradual mercerization a better mercerizing effect, a considerable saving in concentrated cooled mercerizing liquid and in time is obtained. As the consumption of concentrated, highly cooled lye occurs solely in the last compartment only small quantities of such lye are required so that a saving in the cooling Work is obtained.

Obviously instead of having only one storage tank from which the concentrated and cooled lye is fed to the last compartment of the steeping apparatus and instead of letting the lye flow by gravity into the preceding compartments whereby its concentration and temperature adjusts itself a separate storage tank for each compartment may be provided in which tanks lye of different strength and temperature is stored and led to the respective compartment of the steeping apparatus.

After the web of the fabric has left the roller 12 of the unit 2 of the steeping apparatus it is led to an adjustable longitudinal tensioning device 35. The latter comprises two stationary guiding rollers 36 and 37 and a guid ing roller 38 rotatably mounted at its ends in guide blocks 39 which are displaceable along guidances 4() provided in the frame of the device 35. The guide blocks are influenced by weights 41 yconnected to the former by pulling organs 42 passing over guide pulleys 43. The web passing over the guiding rollers 36, 38 and 37 is thereby subjected to a longitudinal stretching effect. This stretching effect can be adjusted by adjusting the load 41 according to the nature of the fabric and to the nature of the subsequent breadth stretching apparatus in order to attain the desired effeet. By the aid of this adjustableI longitudinal tensioning apparatus the mercerizing machine admits of being adapted easily and conveniently to any type offabric so as to attain the best ultimate effect. Obviously the longitudinal tension may be produced by any other means well known per se. The tensioning b y means of weights is advantageous inasmuch as it adapts itself automatically din-ing working to the various working conditions and thereby maintains the longitudinal tension, once adjusted uniform during working.

The fabric leaving the longitudinal. stretching device passes thereafter to the breadtl'i stretching and washing apparatus. The breadth stretching apparatus illustrated. comprises a plurality of curved stretching rollers of the known type which are subdivided in the running direction of the web of fabric into two sets arranged at different heights. The first set comprises .five rollers 44 which are in driving connection with each other by the geariwheels 45 provided at their ends and the gear wheels 45 are driven from shafts 46 and 47 provided with gear wheels 48 and 49 respectively which are in mesh with some of the gear wheels 45. j

The second set of curved stretching rollers comprises eight rollers 5() arranged in a treatment tank 51. The rollers 50 are in operative connection with each other by means of gear wheels 52 and the latter' are driven by gear Wheels 53 and 54 on the shafts 55 and 56 respectively. The shafts 46, 47, 55 and 56 are rotated fi'om t-he main driving shaft 16 through the inter-position of the conical pulleys 57, 58, belt 59, countershaft 60, chain wheels 61`and chains 62, 63 and 64.

Bale plates 65 are provided in the treatment tank 51 in order to provide a tortuous path for the washing liquid which is thereby caused to flow in an opposite direction to that in which the fabric moves and in close contact with the latter so that an effective washing is obtained.

The fabric leaving the last of the stretching rollers 50 passes over a guide roller 66 and from there into the steam treatment washing apparatus 67. The latter comprises a set of upper guide rollers 68 and a set of lower guide rollers 69 mounted inside a chest 70 and over which the fabric passes. The lower rollers 69 are separated from each other by partition walls 71 whereby different compartments 72 are formed, the upper rollers 68 are mounted at the same elevation in the steam space of the chest 70. From the last of the lower rollers 69 the fabric passes between the squeezing rollers 73 and 74, the ripper one of which is loaded by the weight 75 through the intermediary of a system of levers 76. 77 denotes a pipe for supplying water for washing purposes which is sprayed on the fabric before it passes between the squeezing rollers, and 78 is a pipe for supplying steam to the chest 70. The rollers 68 are rotated from the countershaft 60 by means of the conical pulley 79, belt 81, and belt pulley 80 fixed to the shaft 82 of the roller 68 and a train of chain wheels 83 and chains 84.

The partit-ion walls 71 are of different heights so that the washing liquid which is supplied by the pipe 77 flows from the last compartment 72 over the partition wall 71 into the next compartment and so on until the last compartment from where the liquid enters the treatment tank 51 containing the m breadth stretching rollers. Within the tank 5l the washing liquid is caused by the baille plates to flow in intimate contact with the fabric but in opposite direction to that in which the fabric moves, until the washing liquid is discharged through the pipe 85. The difference in the liquid levels inside the chest and in the treatment tank 51 is caused by the pressure of the steam admitted into the chest 7 0. Y

i'atus from the pipe 77 at the end at which the fabric leaves the apparatus it is apparent that the Washing liquid in the last compartment 72 will contain the least portion of the washed out mercerizing liquid.` This percentage of inercerizing liquid will gradually increase in the preceding compartment@ of the chest and the highest percentage will be present at the beginning of the treatment tank 51 where the washing liquid is discharged. The washing effect is suiiiciently gradual. iny order not to impair the mercerizing effect in certain goods.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific steps set forth nor the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages. i

I claim: Y

1. The method of mercerizing fabrics which consists in subjectingr the fabric to a series of baths of mercerizing liquid, of gradually increasing concentrations and gradually decreasing temperatures, squeezing the fabric after each bath, and subjecting the fabric to longitudinal tension.

2. The method of mercerizing fabrics which consists in subjecting the fabric to a series of baths of mercerizing liquid of gradually increasing concentrations and gradually decreasing itemperatures, squeezing the fabric, subjecting the fabric to longitudinal and transverse stretching, washing the fabric in a combined steam and liquid bath, and rinsing the fabric. Y

The vmethod of impregnating' fabric with mercerizing liquid which comprises subjecting the fabric to a series of baths of mercerizing liquid of gradually increasing concentration whereby the fabric is rapidly penetrated by the dilute liquid to facilitate the mercerizing action of the concentrated liquid. i p' 4. The method of mercerizing aweb of fabric which comprises passing the fabric through a series of baths of mercerizing liquid of gradually decreasing temperature and gradually increasing concentration and subjecting the fabric to a longitudinal tension during the steeping process.

5. The method of mercerizing fabrics creasing temperature whereby the fabric is rapidly penetrated by the dilute, warm liquid to facilitate the mercerizing effect of the concentrated, cooler liquid.

6. The method of impregnating fabric with mercerizing liquid which comprises n passing the fabric through a counter flowing As the washing liquid flows into the appa current of mercerizing liquid from a low temperature source whereby the fabricfirst encounters warmed and diluted mercerizing liquid and passes through mercerizing liquid of gradually decreasing temperature and gradually increasing concentration.

7. The method of impregnating fabric with mercerizing liquid which comprises passing the fabric through a series of baths of mercerizing liquid, introducing cold concentrated `mercerizing liquid "into the last bath through which t-he fabric passes, and directing the liquid from each bath into the preceding one whereby each preceding bath con-V tains liquid of higher temperature and lower concentration than the succeeding.

8. The method of mercerizing a web of fabric which comprises passing the fabric through a series of baths of mercerizing liquid of gradually decreasing temperature and gradually increasing concentration, Washing and rinsing the fabric Vand maintaining the web of fabric under longitudinall andlateral tension until all the excessmercerizingliquid has been washed out of the fabric. Y

'9. The method of mercerizing a web of fabric which comprises passing the fabric through a series of baths of mercerizing liquid of gradually decreasing temperature and gradually increasing concentration, passing the fabric through a counter flowing washing current and maintaining the web of fabric under longitudinal and lateral tension until all the excess mercerizing liquid has been washed out of the fabric.

10. The method of mercerizing fabric which comprises preliminarily immersing the fabric in av bath of mercerizing liquid which has been warmed and diluted by a plurality of( prolonged immersions of fabric. then immersing the fabric is inercerizing liquid which has been warmedfand diluted to a less degree by shorter contact with fabric, and ultimately immersing the fabric in a fresh bath of cold concentrated mercerizing liquid.

1l. The method of impregnating fabric with mercerizing liquid which comprises subjecting the fabric to a bath of mercerizing liquid having a temperature substantially the same as that of the fabric and thereafter subjecting the fabric to baths of mercerizing liquid having successively lower temperatures, whereby the penetration and mercer-y izing action of the coldliquid is enhanced `by i the preliminary impregnation of the warmer liquid.

12. The method of impregnating fabric with mercerizing liquid which comprises passing a. web of fabric through a series of communicating baths of mercerizing liquid, progressing the liquid through the baths in a current counter of the movement f the fabric and feeding low-temperature liquid to the last bath through which the fabric passes whereby the fabric initially enters a bath of relatively warm liquid and passes through a series of baths of successively lower temperature.

13. The method of impregnating fabric with nrercerizing liquid which comprises subjecting the fabric to a series of baths of mercerizing liquid, the temperature of the first bath being highest and each succeeding bath being of very slightly lower temperature than the preceding whereby a gradated penetration and mercerization of the fabric is effected.

14. The method of mercerizing fabric which comprises prelin'iinarily immersing the fabric in a bath of mercerizing liquid which has been warmed and diluted by a plurality 0f prolonged immersione of fabric, then immersing the fabric in mereerizing liquid which has been warmed and diluted to a less degree by shorter contact with fabric, and ultimately immersing the fabric in a fresh bath of cold concentrated inercerizing liquid and squeezing the fabric between the successive baths.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ARNOLD BOSSI-IARD. 

